Under the Cover of Darkness

26 | Carson | Part Two

I didn't think that I would be so happy to see the neon lights of an ice cream shop.

After a particularly horrid day at work with my new dunderhead of a PA, Helen, I was more than ready to stamp down whatever discordant feelings I had for the brightly colored shop and accept all the bizareness it offered with open arms.

I locked my car and started up to the shop with my hands stuck in the pockets of my leather jacket.

My heart was racing at the thought of finally seeing her after a very difficult four weeks.

As I got to the door I had to wait for a young couple to exit before I could enter.

The raven-haired woman held an ice cream cone in one hand and her boyfriend in the other and she was laughing. They were both laughing.

I stood there and watched as they turned a corner and disappeared.

It was only after they were gone that I realized that I wanted that. I was ready for that.

I never thought that I would but for the first time in my life I wanted a serious relationship. With someone I could be myself around. With someone that I wouldn't mind spending all the billions I'd acquired on. With someone who was so enchanting that only the thought of her would be enough to send me to cloud nine.

The more that I thought about it the more that I realized that only one person came to mind. Only one person fit the bill. A certain rainbow loving woman was the person I wanted to be with.

With a stupid smile on my face I opened the door and stepped in.

I knew what I had to do.

A bell above the door signaled my arrival but none of the occupants seemed perturbed by it.

A quick glance around the small ice cream shop showed no sign of the enigmatic woman I'd come to meet.

I glanced at my SmartWatch and found the time to only be 8.45.

I relaxed considerably. She was probably still on her way.

I was about to go occupy the empty blue booth at the back that was under the unicorn's wing on the wallpaper when I turned and on a whim ordered a cone of orange-chocolate-chip.

I carried my unplanned dessert to the booth I'd been eyeing and sat to watch and wait.

I was sending a text to Eddie when I heard the bell of the shop tinkle and I raised my head.

The new patron was an unfamiliar woman and I was about to turn back to my phone when I saw the shoes she had on. I immediately recognized the rainbow tufts and crystal heels of the shoes I had gotten Butterfly.

I had to look closer because I couldn't believe that I was actually looking at Butterfly.

She wasn't in her usual rainbow gear. Instead of the rainbow tresses she always sported the long hair flowing around her was a dark brown color that looked more natural to her and curled around her delicate face.

Rather than one of her bright outfits, Butterfly was clothed in only a pair of matching white sweatshirt and joggers that had a simple rainbow on the chest and on one leg of the pants respectively.

In fact the only other thing that I recognized other than the heels was the black mask surrounding her eyes.

But she could've worn a potato sack and she would still be able to render me completely speechless with her magnificence.

I watched as she looked around before her gaze found me in my semi-dark nook.

With a knowing smile she walked up to me.